Any breeders here ??

[joz]

If so I'm just wopndering how you get rid of any excess fish.
I've had a few run ins with some of the LFS' lately saying they won't buy any excess fish but I can give them to them.

Ok I know guppies aren't to desirable but what about things that fetch a decent dollar?


Just wondering if any others around here have had the same experience at all and if so what do you do?

[dean_alicia]

hey Joz,

what other fish are you looking at getting rid of? i have become pretty freindly with a couple of LFS so i can ask for you if you like?

[joz]

Nothing much really.
but I was wondering how most of the LFS' look after the enthusiasts which support them.

But actually when I can get around to setting up another tank temporarily,I'm going to catch up some rather largish clown loaches and move them from my main tank.
But i've been wanting to do that for ages now.
Must get of my fat arse.

[dean_alicia]

yeah iv had a bit of trouble other LFS when trying to parm off a few fish and all they say is we cant take the risk as they might have diseases. WE LOOK AFTER OUR FISH BETTER THAN THE LFS DOES!!!!...
how are your discus going?? how many do you have now??

[yarra2]

It’s the age old law of supply and demand – coupled with the current tight economic circumstances. Luxuries and hobbies are usually the first to feel the pinch. One can’t blame the retailers. Common fish like Goldfish and Guppies (delightful as they are) are worthless and their cost is structured more on handling charges rather than intrinsic value. With `better’ fish we must assume that they know their own customer base and what is sellable.

But I think your question reaches beyond that and touches all of us in the hobby. For instance, I have a batch of red Firemouths that are nearly ready for sale (they are already promised to an LFS) but my last batch I just left in the tank - much to the enjoyment of those who like a snack `on the hoof’ as it were. If/when I can get my Geos and Heckelii to breed I won’t have any trouble selling them. But I’m not in it for the money, my real pleasure and sense of achievement will come from the challenge of raising them. Most of my surplus fish I give away.

The closest I have ever come to deliberately killing a healthy fish is to put them in another tank or the outside pond as feeders. So, in short, we probably all need a bit of self-discipline. If we keep a fish in captivity, in an artificial environment, we have to take on the responsibilities that go with that….. over-breeding would be at the top of the list.

[joz]

Yea I understand.
And anyone/we do decide to breed something I would always stress about breeding things with enough commercial value to justify the effort.

But surely the LFS should have some responsibilty (?) to buy back ( at even less than wholesale perhaps) things that are either excess fish, outgrown the tank or just not needed any longer.

I suppose it is may to much of an ideal to think that a shop would look after its customers much more than just selling to them.

After all if an LFS is going to purchase anyfish why not back from its customer base.

Many years ago I used to deal with a few aquariums on such a basis.
Ofcourse I wasn't trying to ofload guppies but a few different varieties of Sth American cichlids and discus.
Some of the aquariums would even give me (yes free) certain species because I had the space,know how and ability to return a supply of youngsters.

But it seems that most are only willing to take your money these days..

not sure if they expect the hobbyist to flush its excess fish or what?

[yarra2]

I don’t know…. Putting it bluntly I suppose that no business has an obligation or responsibility beyond guaranteeing and servicing their product.

You know, I reckon it comes down to the individual LFS who is prepared to `look after’ certain customers and does that little bit extra for them which he doesn’t do for others. I’ve got a good relationship with one LFS in particular who goes that extra mile for me and I give him my loyalty (and my business) in return. I’m reminded of the comment made by Mr Wrigley who when asked why he kept advertising his chewing gum when it is the most popular product on the market – he said something like, “It is like a train, you have to keep shovelling the coal in to keep it going at the same speed.” So we both keep each other coaled-up….:))))

Beyond that I don’t think there is a simple answer.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could organize something through this forum for swapping fish among members as well as selling them? Any thoughts about this?

Mike

[joz]

I don’t know…. Putting it bluntly I suppose that no business has an obligation or responsibility beyond guaranteeing and servicing their product.



Wouldn’t it be great if we could organize something through this forum for swapping fish among members as well as selling them? Any thoughts about this?

Mike


I really do agree with you that no LFS should have any obligation at all.
But some support would be nicer if it went a bit past handing over a bag of fish and taking a customers cash.I suppose it all comes down to the individual relationship that a person has with their LFS.

It may possibly happen one day when the membership base grows here,hopefully that day will come.As long as people don't try to get retail $$ for their fish it should work fine.

But until then I believe that anybody contemplating any breeding should do so only with fish that have a ready market,that way the won't get caught with excess fish that they can't get rid off.

[dean_alicia]

hey Joz,

do you no any Discus forums that a worth looking at, im looking to add a discus or 2 to my tank, would rather buy from local enthusiasts first b4 i go to a LFS.

thanks

[joz]

Sorry Dean I have never actually looked.
When looking for Discus I would first do the rounds by phone the drive to anywhere which sounded promising,that was years ago now though.